Lower Leg Muscles

Question 1

What are the muscles in the superficial compartment?

Answer 1

You have the gastrocnemius (two heads), the plantaris and the Soleus.

Question 2

What are the insertions, actions and innervations of the gastrocnemius?

Answer 2

The origin is the medial and lateral femoral condyles (two heads) which form a single belly, the attachment is to the callcaneal tendon to the calcaneus.
The action is to flex the knee and plantarflex the ankle joint, it produces forceful contraction in running and jumping.
The innervation is the tibial nerve (branch of sciatic)

Question 3

What are the insertions, actions and innervations of the plantaris?

Answer 3

The origin is the lateral supracondylar line of the femur and again inserts into the calcaneal tendon into the calcaneum.

The action is to flex the knee (weak) and plantarflex the ankle (Weak), not vital and not present in 10% of people
It is innervated by the tibial nerve.

Question 4

What is the origin, insertion and action of the soleus?

Answer 4

The origin is the soleal line of the tibia and proximal fibular
The insertion is via the calcaneal tendon into the calcaneum
The action
Only crosses the ankle and not the knee so the action is to plantarflex the ankle.
Innervated by the tibial nerve

Question 5

What are the associated bursa with the calcaneal tendon?

Answer 5

First of all, bursa are fluid filled sacs.
The two associated with the calcaneal tendon are superficial and deep…
Superficial are between the tendon and the skin
Deep between the tendon and the bone.